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Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
#13165254
05/24/19 01:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975
MathGeek
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975 |
�Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" - The Messiah
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Re: Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
[Re: MathGeek]
#13169203
05/28/19 10:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 6,854
V-Bottom
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 6,854 |
I pop the crabs shell off first then cut it in half.
Texas Anglers Recognition Program TPWD Official Weigh Station,77563 Coastal Bend Weigh Team, Cert. Weigh Master USMC66'- www.troutsupport.com
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Re: Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
[Re: MathGeek]
#13169210
05/28/19 10:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,234
Jerry713
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,234 |
If you want to increase the number of reds you catch remove the top shell as V-bottom mentioned. Reds don't like shells or fins.
You get out of it what you put into it!
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Re: Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
[Re: Jerry713]
#13171976
05/31/19 02:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975
MathGeek
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975 |
If you want to increase the number of reds you catch remove the top shell as V-bottom mentioned. Reds don't like shells or fins. Our experience is that removing the top shell does not catch more reds, but gets the bait picked apart much more quickly by sea catfish. We prefer cutting whole market crabs in half both for faster dissemination of scent and to ensure better hook ups. Half crabs also tend to catch more gafftops, slot reds, and slot drum. Some times whole crabs are better: 1. Crabs are on the small side. 2. Sea catfish (hardheads) are picking cracked crabs apart so quickly that frequent rebaiting is needed. 3. You prefer not to catch gafftops. 4. Crabs are in short supply. 1 whole crab will last much longer than two halves - usually lasting until you catch a fish big enough to eat it.
�Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" - The Messiah
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Re: Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
[Re: MathGeek]
#13172196
05/31/19 05:35 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6
Dawgpile
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6 |
I've used both when fishing for bull reds and see both sides of the argument.
Something I've wondered but never tried...does anyone ever crush the shell? Meaning, keep a smaller crab whole but use a knife butt of something to crack the shell before sending it out.
I wonder if this would help disseminate the scent while still protecting from scavenger?
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Re: Preparing and Hooking Cracked Crab for Bull Redfish and Drum
[Re: Dawgpile]
#13172369
05/31/19 08:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975
MathGeek
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 975 |
I've used both when fishing for bull reds and see both sides of the argument.
Something I've wondered but never tried...does anyone ever crush the shell? Meaning, keep a smaller crab whole but use a knife butt of something to crack the shell before sending it out.
I wonder if this would help disseminate the scent while still protecting from scavenger? Those sea catfish are relentless. Our happy medium is to break the tips off of the left and right ends of the shell. This leaves enough structural integrity to keep the sea catfish from stealing/ruining the bait and lets some scent out.
�Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" - The Messiah
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